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Diffusion and Osmosis Explained

The document discusses various types of passive transport of molecules across membranes, including diffusion and osmosis. It explains that diffusion is the movement of molecules from high to low concentration until equilibrium is reached, while osmosis specifically refers to the passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane. The document also describes three types of solutions - isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic - and their effects on cells through osmosis, noting that cells will swell in hypotonic solutions due to gaining water and shrivel in hypertonic solutions due to losing water.

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Deborah Lauren
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48 views17 pages

Diffusion and Osmosis Explained

The document discusses various types of passive transport of molecules across membranes, including diffusion and osmosis. It explains that diffusion is the movement of molecules from high to low concentration until equilibrium is reached, while osmosis specifically refers to the passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane. The document also describes three types of solutions - isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic - and their effects on cells through osmosis, noting that cells will swell in hypotonic solutions due to gaining water and shrivel in hypertonic solutions due to losing water.

Uploaded by

Deborah Lauren
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Transport

[Link]

Diffusion
The tendency of molecules to spread out into available space

Diffusion is influenced by:


Molecular weight
Temperature Concentration gradient

Diffusion
Continues until the concentration gradient has been eliminated Is only effective over short distances

Passive transport
Diffusion across a membrane is called passive transport, because the cell does not expend any energy in order for it to happen

Passive transport in our bodies


O2

Osmosis
Osmosis is the passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane link to image of plasma membrane

Diffusion vs. Osmosis


Can occur with any type of molecule Only occurs with water molecules

Does not require a membrane

Requires a semipermeable membrane

Diffusion and Osmosis


Both diffusion and osmosis involve molecules moving from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration. Alternatively, we can say that the molecules move down the concentration gradient

Types of solutions and osmosis


Lets take a look at three types of solutions, and how they may influence the direction of osmosis ISOTONIC HYPERTONIC HYPOTONIC

ISOTONIC SOLUTION
The term iso indicates same. An isotonic solution has the same concentration as the cell within it, therefore, there is no net osmosis of water. The amount of water within the cell would stay the same

HYPOTONIC SOLUTION
A hypotonic solution has a lower solute concentration. Therefore, it has a higher concentration of water. What would happen to a cell that was placed into a hypotonic solution?

Hypotonic solution
Because there is more water in the solution as compared to the cell, the cell would swell and possibly even lyse (burst).

Hypertonic solution
In a hypertonic solution, there is a higher concentration of dissolved molecules, therefore there is less water. Therefore, when placed in a hypertonic solution, water would exit the cell and the cell would then shrivel (crenate)

Question 1
If a cell were to crenate, it must have been placed in which type of solution?

Select the right answer

isotonic
hypertonic hypotonic

CORRECT

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